New Ideas Concerning Arts and Social Studies Vol. 6

Role of Women in Natural Resource Governance in Dormaa Central Municipality

Fiasorgbor Doris A — 2026-01-14

Preservation and safeguarding of natural resources cannot be downplayed in this epoch of climate change and food insecurity across the globe. It requires concerted efforts from all classes of people and genders to liberate the globe from the impending dangers associated with the mismanagement of the available natural resources. Given this, the study was designed to assess the roles of women in Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Dormaa Central Municipality. The study used a mixed-method research design where both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and interview guide. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods were used to select respondents for the study. After data collection and analysis, it was discovered that women in the municipality were underrepresented in the various committees and meetings towards NRM. Notably, 84.4% of the women interviewed reported that they have never sat in any meeting discussing how to manage forest, water, and land resources in their communities. Additionally, women were playing some roles in protecting the natural resources, and these were: managing the public standpipes (vendors), joining fire volunteer groups, and afforestation programmes. Also, the perceived masculine-gender superiority was a challenge. The findings showed that 87.6% of landowners in the Municipality are men, benefiting from systems that make land acquisition easier for them. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Forestry Commission, and Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly should embark on intense sensitisation and education across the entire municipality on the roles of women in natural resource management. Secondly, the Gender Desk Officer should periodically organise forums and workshops with women's groups in the municipality and enlighten them about their roles in society, and not belittle the feminine gender. The study highlights systemic underrepresentation of women in NRM and calls for gender-sensitive reforms in policy and practice to ensure sustainable governance of natural resources.

A Descriptive Study of Work Stress and Productivity of Faculties in Nigerian Federal University

Olubunmi Iyabode OJJI — 2026-01-14

Stress is an intrinsic aspect of human existence, influencing individuals of all backgrounds, genders, social standings, and age demographics. Despite the critical roles played by lecturers and medical doctors in society, the impact of stress on their well-being and job performance remains a significant concern. Understanding the sources of stress, its manifestations, and effective management strategies for these professionals is essential for their overall health and the quality of service they provide. This research examined the impact of occupational stress on the productivity of lecturers and medical practitioners in Nigerian federal universities and teaching hospitals. This study investigated the main reasons, signs, and ways these professionals deal with stress. The study used a descriptive survey to elicit information from 375 participants. Of these, 266 were Lecturers, and 109 were doctors selected using proportional sampling from a population of 5,917 across four universities and their affiliated teaching hospitals in Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, and Zaria. A structured questionnaire called the Influence of Work-Stress on the Productivity of Lecturers and Medical Doctors (IWSPLMDQ) was used. It was validated by experts and yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.82 and was employed for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and means. The results showed that the most significant sources of stress were excessive workload, long working hours, inadequate time for research or patient care, and difficulty balancing professional and family responsibilities, with an overall sectional mean of 2.81. The most common signs of stress were being tired, feeling weak, being cranky, and having mood swings and sadness (sectional mean = 2.60). The highlighted stressors included work overload, long hours, not enough time for research, trouble balancing work and personal life, and worries about the future. Stress showed itself in different ways, influencing the physical, mental, and behavioural parts of both groups. The most common ways to deal with stress were to sleep or rest in a quiet place, listen to music, work out often, and live a healthy life (sectional mean = 2.61). The study found that university professors and medical doctors often have a lot of stress at work, which makes them less healthy and less productive. The study recommends that to reduce stress, get healthier, and do better at work by take part in structured wellness programs, an institutional counselling programme, and reduce workload.

Barriers to Succession Planning in the Sierra Leone Public Health Sector

Alhassan Fouard Kanu — 2026-01-14

Background: Succession planning is a cornerstone of strategic human resources for health. As a cross-cutting component, leadership and governance provide the basis for the overall policy and regulation of all the other health system blocks.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the barriers hindering effective succession planning and management (SPM) in the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health (MoH).

Methodology: A qualitative study design was used to understand the barriers to succession planning practices in the MoH. A purposive sample of eighteen (18) participants was interviewed, using a semi-structured guide. All interviews were audio-recorded with the participants’ consent. For the analysis, Braun and Clarke’s (2006) step-by-step framework for performing thematic analysis was followed. The MAXQDA 22 software was used for the text coding and storage.

Findings: The critical barriers that hinder succession planning in the MOH were identified in three main themes: (1) Politics and nepotism, (2) weak performance evaluation mechanism, and (3) lack of resources/costs. Politics and tribalism were considered serious threats to succession planning in the MoH. The findings of this study point to a severe crisis in public health management capacity, driven by the lack of a structured system to develop and retain future leaders. A recurring cycle of leadership instability and management failure will severely compromise Sierra Leone’s efforts to strengthen the health system and achieve universal health coverage.

Conclusion: Research on succession planning in the public sector in Africa is scanty, especially in fragile and post-conflict settings. This study, conducted in Sierra Leone, which had experienced a 10-year civil war, offers a unique opportunity to understand succession planning practices in the MoH to inform post-war public sector governance reforms. The study revealed the weak strategic human resource planning in the public health sector. This study is important for policy and practice because it raises awareness about effective succession planning strategies that help in achieving sustainability by retaining talented staff and developing future leaders in the public health sector.

Social Media Usage, Consumer Perceptions, and AI-Driven Platforms: An Empirical Survey-Based Study

Mahasweta Ghosh — 2026-01-14

This study investigates the growing influence of AI-driven social media platforms on everyday communication practices and business activities. Using an exploratory survey-based design supplemented with contextual qualitative observations, the research integrates a structured literature review with descriptive quantitative and qualitative analysis. Primary data were collected through an online survey of 250 respondents from diverse age groups and occupational backgrounds, supplemented by contextual qualitative observations.

Findings indicate a steady increase in social media engagement over recent years, with individuals aged 15–25 emerging as the most active users. Most respondents reported spending two to five hours daily on platforms such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Social media is widely perceived as useful for communication, entertainment, and business-related purposes; however, perceptions of reliability, safety, and security remain moderate. The study further identifies the expanding role of artificial intelligence in shaping user experiences through personalisation, automated content delivery, targeted advertising, and data-driven insights.

The results highlight the dual nature of AI-driven social media—enhancing usability and business efficiency while simultaneously raising concerns related to privacy, trust, and ethical use. These findings emphasise the importance of strengthening digital literacy, improving platform governance, and adopting responsible AI practices to ensure sustainable social and economic benefits as AI-enabled social media continues to evolve.

Academic and Social Experiences of Children from Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups Enrolled in Private Unaided Schools under the RTE Act, 2009

Bir Abhimanyu Kumar — 2026-01-14

The Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 provides essential rights for children from disadvantaged and weaker sections, ensuring free and compulsory education in neighbourhood schools. The act requires all private schools to reserve at least twenty-five per cent of seats for children from economically weaker sections. This study investigates the academic and social experiences of children from Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) enrolled on private unaided schools under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The study focuses on the challenges these children encounter in learning, classroom participation, and social integration, as well as their perceptions of the school environment. Employing a descriptive mixed-methods design, data were collected during the 2023–24 academic year from 490 children enrolled in 31 private unaided schools across two districts of Madhya Pradesh—Sehore (aspirational) and Vidisha (non-aspirational). Blocks within these districts were chosen randomly under the guidance of State Authorities. The sample reflects diversity in gender (205 boys, 285 girls), grade levels (182 primary, 308 upper primary), and social backgrounds, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Educationally Backward Minority Communities, Other Backward Classes, and General categories.

Findings indicate that children generally report high levels of academic engagement, with most attending classes regularly, finding teaching interesting, and receiving clarification of doubts from teachers. However, persistent challenges remain, particularly in conceptual clarity, language barriers, and workload management. Socially, the school environment is perceived as largely inclusive, with children expressing comfort in peer interactions and respect from teachers. Yet, instances of social discomfort, teasing, and occasional discrimination highlight the need for targeted interventions.

The study underscores the importance of strengthening pedagogical strategies, enhancing teacher training, and providing structured academic support to address learning gaps. It also recommends infrastructural improvements and expanded co-curricular opportunities to enrich the educational experiences of SEDG children. Overall, the findings emphasise the importance of a holistic approach to education—one that integrates academic excellence with a nurturing social environment. By situating these findings within the framework of Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009 and the guiding principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the research contributes to ongoing efforts to ensure equitable, inclusive, and holistic education for all children.

Roots and Transformations: Installation Art in Contemporary Sculpture

Ratan Kanwar — 2026-01-14

In the 20th and 21st centuries, concepts of durability, control over physical substance, and spatial existence have undergone a remarkable change. In contrast to classical sculpture, which emphasises qualities such as resilience, expert artistry, and symbolism, modern approaches have expanded the definition of sculpture to include immersive and participatory perspectives.

By combining media such as sculpture, sound, light, video, and performance to create a place-specific atmosphere, installation art has emerged as a significant force of transformation. In comparison to static, object-centric works, the installation gives stress on spatial dynamics, aspects of temporality and audience interaction, which facilitates the emergence of meaning through personal experience and contextual involvement.

The historical evolution of installation art started with early avant-garde efforts, including Marcel Duchamp's readymades, Dadaism, Surrealism, and constructivism, which critically analysed well-known aesthetic norms, material disruption, and participation of the observers. The innovation of many persons, notably Allan Kaprow's Happenings and Yayoi Kusama's immersive installations, laid the foundation of the process with audience engagement and perceptual alteration.

Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty and Joseph Beuys' ecological initiatives first started installation art as a vehicle for social, political, and environmental discussion and ecological discourse. The conceptual richness and cultural implications of installation art utilising both traditional and innovative materials to confront urgent societal and environmental issues received a lot of attention from notable artists Olafur Eliasson, Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, as well as Indian practitioners. The scale, conceptual richness, and cultural implications of installation art.

Installation art entails phenomenology, relational aesthetics, and participatory and immersive characteristics. This increases the significance of embodied perception, social interaction, and contextual meaning, eg, Postmodern and deconstructive methodologies further promote a plurality of interpretations, thereby increasing audience involvement.

This chapter highlights a case study of an environment-oriented installation using the available roots, woods and natural materials in the vicinity of the university with emphasis on sustainability, protection of cultural heritage, and audience engagement. The study elucidates the several ways in which contemporary installation art has value in aesthetic and ethical aspects, which in turn establishes a link between traditional knowledge and ecological consciousness.

AI-Powered Administrative Tools and Secretarial Job Security: A Phenomenological Study in Lesotho Government Ministries

Marethabile Selloane Florina Hoeane-Makote — 2026-01-14

This pilot phenomenological qualitative study explored how five secretaries from a selected Lesotho government ministry perceived job security amid the emerging, though informal, use of AI-powered administrative tools in their daily work. Guided by an interpretivist stance and informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) frameworks, the study employed a purposive non-probability sampling and conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews to capture participants’ lived experiences. Data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. Three dominant themes emerged: (1) fear of role displacement; (2) competency gaps, notably limited digital skills and lack of training; and (3) structural limitations, including inadequate infrastructure, weak communication and unclear policy direction. Participants acknowledged the efficiency improvements associated with AI tools but voiced concerns about future roles; inadequate training, limited organisational support and the absence of clear digital transformation plans. Based on the findings, the study recommended a focused strategy that combines targeted reskilling, structured capacity-building and clear, policy-driven digital integration to enable secure and meaningful adoption of AI tools while preserving the secretaries’ distinct professional roles. As a small pilot, the findings were context-specific, and their transferability to other settings should be assessed rather than assumed; nonetheless, they offer applicable, evidence-based guidance for ministries pursuing inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. The study contributed deep insights into AI tools adoption and job security within African public service environments and identifies priorities for policy, training and change management to inform subsequent large-scale qualitative research.